Golden Globes 2011: The year of minimalism

After going to bed at 4am and sleeping scarcely four hours to wake up early and edit pictures I finally give you the Golden Globes 2011 post! I keenly watched the red carpet and the entire show this year not to miss out on any outfits. We know that the Globes are just the warm-up to the Oscars in terms of fashion. Everyone tries to look as effortlessly glamourous as possible, which this year translated on minimalism as the main trend on the red carpet.
My three clear winners of the night were Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone and January Jones. I was thrilled that Rachel Zoe chose the beautifully sequined Armani Privé gown I first fell in love when Karlie Kloss wore it on the catwalk. It was simple yet tremendously sophisticated and very Anne -simply bananas. Emma Stone chose a salmon Calvin Klein Collection that needed no more than light make up, simple hair and a nice clutch. Check, check and check. And January, oh January. I literally gasped for air when I first saw her on the red carpet. Even though she already wore a cocktail version of this dress at Versace's SS11 show I loved the fact that she was channeling Mad Men this time with the hair and the modern take on Hollywood's golden era.

I really liked Claire Dane's pink Calvin Klein Collection. Especially the fold detail on the top. She looked lovely but there was a kind of spark missing. She was still one of the best dressed of the night. Now, Natalie Portman is a tough call. I was horrified when I saw her first but then I sat back and looked more carefully. If anyone could make her Viktor & Rolf dress look refined that's her. I liked that it was quite dramatic, apt for the role she was nominated for, and that it celebrated the woman she's become and the things she's achieved. I also thought the choice of wearing a necklace was a great way to draw a bit of attention away from the baby bump to the neck and balance the look up. And lastly (for now), Leighton Meester in Burberry Prorsum. She always looks so incredibly cool and feminine in anything. I love how she never lets dresses wear her and I particularly liked this one below because it was unexpected and very event-appropriate.

Who did you love most?
I will be back later today with some more good styling choices and my favourite, the worst dressed list! Stay tuned.
I'm off.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Celebrity-Gossip.net]

Russian Doll Vol. 2

I first started to grasp the ideas behind Viktor & Rolf and to understand the fuss about them a while ago after spending four hours at the Barbican gazing at their collections in awe. Any aspects that might have seemed merely superficial in the past now turned into fully formed concepts in my mind. Ever since then I meticulously look at their collections making sure that I never misinterpret them again.

[Pictures: Style.com]

This is why excitement took over me as I looked at the pictures from their FW10 collection. It brought to me the unforgettable memory of their FW99 Haute Couture show very accurately called "Russian Doll". The Dutch designers manipulated their garments on the catwalk, in front of everyone, adding layers in the shape of dresses to the standing model. And something of the sort happened for their last prêt-à-porter line, something made me very happy.

Click here to see Part 2 of the video.

I'm off.

eternal sunshine of the spotless ACCESSORY, part 2

It is what you all were waiting for, and here it is. The second part of the S/S 2009 accessories special. Stare, dream and comment away!

We are always looking out for the shades of the season, and here they are. And they are also the best homage of Mary-Kate Olsen. Dries Van Noten managed to take ethnic into the future, and in what a way!

Chanel is the quintessential runway to look at when searching for classic that for magnificently on season as well. Their high heels à la Blair Waldorf add a classic with an edge touch and that plastic-like bag will most likely be all over the place.

Next season's Fendi accessories are the best twist for any outfit. Their take on the Hermès Birkin bag and the colourful peep-toe wedges do not seem to go very well together but might be two fantastic options for an edgy summer ensemble.

Giambattista Valli decided not to create something new but to take his very own approach on the classic stiletto shoes. Add interesting colours and fabrics and a little platform and you are on business!

Givenchy keeps following the gothic line that made them one of the top brands this season to create the chicest leather shoes that will make the delights of all those Rock'n'roll lovers out there.

Even though Marc Jacobs colletions for his own brand and Louis Vuitton very much hold hands the latter contained excellent pieces showing the biggest variety of colours, materials and shapes.

Marc Jacobs brought his inspiration from the Louis Vuitton collection into the bags for his own brand. His classic shapes and chains add up to the fresh colours very originally mixed.

Michael Kors not only brought the aviators to the limit but his pattern-mixing for men are nothing but preppy-ly exciting.

A collaboration with Christian Louboutin always pays off and Phillip Lim knows it. The flower-like leather shapes make his shoes the most glamorous item to own next season.

Ralph Lauren came up with a 21st-century Great Gatsby and created beautiful hats and sunglasses made for those romantics like me who dress like back then because they could not live it.

Viktor & Rolf's shoes are not made for just anyone. However, if you are so picky you will only wear unique pieces and you are not afraid to be risky they are most definitely for you.

If sunglasses above are not fit for your taste you might have to look at Yohji Yamamoto's. His shapes are innovative in so many ways but look back at the past instead of into the future unlike must other designers'.

[Pictures credit: Style.com]

I'm off.

prep your SHOULDERS

Lately, fashion seems to be cutting down on adding layers and accessories and pumping up on new silhouettes and detailing. It is like going back to basics when everything was more about quality cuts and materials and not so much about quantity. This tendency is most noticeable in plenty of Spring/Sumer 2009 collections, specially on shoulder shapes. They have been rounded (Balenciaga), pointed (Balmain, MarcJacobs) and sculptured (Chloé, V&R) resulting in some very innovative forms that only the bravest will wear. But if they do not spread out next summer at least shoulder pads will.
Have a look at what some of the best designers have come up with.







Yay or Nay?


[Pictures credit: Style.com]


I'm off.

i HEART V&R

What could be better than a cloudy Sunday afternoon (no hangover included) spent in a cosy museum surrounded by skilfully made Haute Couture? Exactly. I spent one of such days at the Barbican in London city. I expected it to be an enjoyable time but it turns out Dutch fashion has special powers. The entrance to the exhibition was rather surrealistic –Russian dolls dressed in layers of fabrics as if made by spiders and headless mannequins in white PVC. But it soon got very interesting with a number or hanging gold organza dresses and a recording of kids reciting the names of the top models of the 90’s —the designers’ reaction to the era’s worshipping of the runway walkers.
That good turn was only the beginning of THE fashion experience between two walls. Mini-reproductions of the designers’ most iconic pieces filled a 16-feet tall dollhouse, some of which could be found large scale later on. However, my favourite part of the exhibition was the successive display on the walls of every V&R catwalk show ever every of which was accompanied by life-size dolls dressed in the most characteristic gowns from every collection. Sitting on the benches set on the sides of the projections, crossing your legs and nodding approval you felt an active part of the front row no matter if the show happened in 1993 or six months ago. The only action to be performed was to walk from one cubicle to another and find a spot on a bench and let be absorbed. An absorption that only saw itself interrupted by the curators shouting the 5-minutes to closing warning. I only missed a couple of runway videos, so no harm done and great happiness found.
I ought to confess, though, that I was never a fan of the Dutch pair but The House of Viktor & Rolf opened my eyes and pointed my sight in the right direction. It is baffling how much you can miss out on when you are not aware of the ideas behind the collections and thus, what an incredible experience you can make out of them when you take a bit of time and find what they are all about.
If you were among the lucky ones to pay a visit to the Barbican between June 18th and September 21st you will most certainly know what I am on about. If you were not, I hope everything above left you with a good taste in your mouth.





I’m off.